FCC spokesperson Kim Hart has told Ars Technica that it had “productive discussions” with AT&T, Comcast, and T-Mobile regarding trends in the market. Hart wouldn’t offer any specifics about the individual meetings, but did say that the meetings weren’t meant to be investigations or anything that would lead to actions being taken against the companies:

“This is not an enforcement action or investigation, as the Chairman [Tom Wheeler] has made clear. Direct dialogue with companies is an important way in which the Commission can watch and learn, and consistent with our approach in the Open Internet Order.”

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has previously voiced his support of Binge On, saying that it’s “highly innovative and highly competitive.” Binge On has been the target of a lot of criticisms lately, though, including from YouTube and the EFF as well as folks that feel that Binge On violates net neutrality. Because of these criticisms and the fact that we’re seeing a few zero-rating programs in use lately, like Binge On and AT&T’s Sponsored Data program, the FCC likely wanted to meet with T-Mo learn more about exactly how Binge On works. T-Mobile hasn’t given a statement about its meeting with the FCC or what was said.

I guess that puts some people like complainers in their place. FCC likes the idea and that’s good.

John Doe

The FCC never said they like the idea. The chairman of the FCC said a while back that it is “highly innovative and highly competitive.” but he also said in that video (you can look it up on the FCC site, it is the Nov 19 meeting) that the FCC will keep an eye out on Binge On to make sure it doesn’t break any rules.

In regards to this meeting,

Hart wouldn’t offer any specifics about the individual meetings, but did say that the meetings weren’t meant to be investigations or anything that would lead to actions being taken against the companies.

So this meeting was only meant to gather information and nothing else.

TL;DR

The FCC has not made a formal statement regarding zero-rating services such as BingeOn yet so no they have not said they “like the idea”.

John

1) Only if you wrongly and foolishly assume that there is only one issue at play here.

2) The FCC has not said that they like the idea.

3) The FCC does not always make the right decision

Guest 2

More than 2 hours, I think, and Legere hasn’t said a thing,
The word ‘productive’ suggests that something was said and agreed. We’ll have to see what that is.
The AT&T middleman ideas are worrisome, but Binge On could be fixed:
1. Make it opt-in
2. Don’t mess with non participating video files.
3. Make it clear that the whole data traffic is throttled when Binge On kicks in.

psychoace

Or even if we are opt in allow us to still choose the stream quality. Default to 480p but if we want 1080p then let us take the data hit.

Edgar Gonzalez

I’d be happy with the choice between 480p and 720p and 1080p being binge-off lol

StankyChikin

Opt-in won’t happen.

John

I think you are right, further evicence that tmobile sucks

John

The most important thing I’ve learned in the last two weeks is that the CEO of a major corporation is not only a lying scumbag (not unusual), but that he also somehow convinced hundreds or thousands of everyday people to believe he is actually a good guy trying to help *us*.

And he did such a good job of this deception, that legions of people are eating up and repeating his obviously dishonest rhetoric.

TechnoRealz

And I learn the number of people who just sign up on this blog to tell me how to think & behave as an adult.

Keep fighting for mind control – you are the stupid ones not us TMO fans.

John

> “And I learn the number of people who just sign up on this blog to tell me how to think & behave as an adult.”

Sign up? LOL. You may not be aware of this, but this blog is not behind any kind of registration wall, and it participates in the disqus network. I’ve never ‘signed up’ for this blog, though I’ve been reading it for years.

> Keep fighting for mind control – you are the stupid ones not us TMO fans.

Mind control? That is an interesting comment. If you read the marketing that tmobile has published related to bingeon, you will see the exact same dishonest techniques which known propagandists use, and which are recognized as explicit logical fallacies.

And what’s with your tribalism? Most of the critics of binge on are tmobile subscribers and, until recently, were tmobile fans. Its precisely because we have been invested in tmobile that we are so unhappy.

I’ve converted probably a dozen people to tmobile, and now I regret doing so.

You’re right, can’t say he say he’s a liar, but Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure is on a couple “worst CEO of 2015” lists, while John Legere has lead T-Mobile to be Consumer Reports best carrier of 2015.

vinnyjr

You are obviously a Troll. Having been with all US Carriers and now with T-Mobile, my signal has never been stronger, my data speeds are very fast, twice as fast as all the other Carriers and having real unlimited data without throttling I have never been happier. My disabled sister with Binge On is able to enjoy Netflix, she enjoys a certain program and is able to watch these shows for hours and it doesn’t go against her data plan. Binge On is a great idea, if you don’t want it just shut it down. Thank You T-Mobile, Thank You John Legere. If not for John Legere the Mobile Industry would be still doing business as usual. Every Carrier has copied T-Mobile, Wonder Why?

John

You comment history has well over a dozen comments filled with mindless, effusive praise for tmobile, ending with ‘Thank you tmob, Thank you JL”.

What motivates you? Who does this kind of thing? And why?

I am not a troll. I am a tmobile subscriber who believes everyone – but especially businesses – should have a minimum level of honesty in their communication.

Is everyone who disagrees with you a ‘troll’? LOL

Legere’s previous conduct doesn’t make his recent actions okay. You are like those who enabled domestic abuse: “oh, he couldn’t beat his wife, look at how generous he is at church!”

JMccovery

This applies to just about every CEO out there…

mingkee

T-Mobile has this zero rating plan is an pro-active measure as they know the spectrum is really limited even with B2, B4, and B12 combined.

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